~ Maximum grant for eligible producers raised from $50,000 to $150,000 ~ (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 21,2023) — Today, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced a cost-share assistance program to support agricultural producers severely impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The cost-share assistance program will be administered though the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy and will support …
Disaster Assistance Provided to Farmers, Livestock Producers in Florida Impacted by Hurricane Idalia
Florida agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by Hurricane Idalia and related weather events. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. (USDA-NRCS/GAINESVILLE, FL/Sept. 12, 2023) — Florida agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by Hurricane Idalia and related weather events. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical …
Florida Agricultural Landowners Encouraged to Apply for EQIP
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS in FL) wants landowners affected by Hurricane Idalia to know they can provide assistance through conservation program contracts. More specifically, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) conservation practices can help agricultural landowners and producers address disaster related resource concerns on their land. “The Natural Resources Conservation Service remains committed to helping the people of Florida …
USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Farmers and Livestock Producers in Florida Impacted by Hurricane Idalia
Florida agricultural operations that have been impacted by Hurricane Idalia and related weather events are being reminded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) there is both technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist …
USDA Accepts EQIP Applications on a Continuous Basis
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind landowners about the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). By providing financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers, EQIP addresses natural resource concerns and delivers environmental benefits. Those benefits include improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat. NRCS Chief Terry Cosby, notes EQIP and …
GATES Act Aims to Include Larger Farms in Conservation Programs
The Growing Access to Environmental Sustainability (GATES) Act seeks to reduce barriers that producers face in accessing agricultural conservation programs. Congressman John Duarte, a farmer from California, is on the coalition behind the act. He says current adjusted gross income (AGI) limitations of $900,000 disproportionately limit producers with high input costs from participating in certain USDA conservation-focused programs. “That sounds …
USDA Announces Historic Investment in Wildlife Conservation
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will expand its work on wildlife conservation by investing at least $500 million over the next five years. This includes leveraging all available conservation programs through both the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA). These commitments will ramp up the conservation assistance for farmers, ranchers, private forest owners and tribes …
USDA Announces Investment in Wildlife Conservation
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing in wildlife conservation. That’s coming up on This land of Ours. The USDA this week expanded wildlife conservation investments by $500 million over the next five years. The effort leverages all available conservation programs, including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), through its Working Lands for Wildlife effort. The commitments will ramp up the …
Georgia Sign-up Deadline Nearing for Organic Production
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia (NRCS-GA) reminds farmers looking to transition to organic, the sign-up deadline for the Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is June 15, 2023. This Georgia NRCS sign-up follows a national announcement detailing the USDA’s multi-agency approach to assist producers beginning or in the process of transitioning to achieve organic certification. Only those …
USDA Opens Full-Time, Entry-Level Soil Conservationist Positions across U.S. as Part of Broader Effort to Implement the Inflation Reduction Act
(USDA-NRCS/WASHINGTON/May 5, 2023) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is quickly ramping up hiring of new team members to help implement $19.5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for conservation programs, which is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. For example, NRCS opened job announcements this week for soil conservationists. This batch of job openings is part of a broader effort …